Figures show that male teachers in Worcestershire are paid more than female teachers, despite making up less than a quarter of the workforce. 

The median salary for a male teacher in an English state school is £41,604 – 3% more than the £40,490 made by women.

In Worcestershire schools, men earn £41,604 – 4% more than women, who make £40,124 on average.

Men in the area get paid £40,124 on average when they work in the classroom, and £70,745 as head teachers.

Meanwhile, female classroom teachers get an average of £39,300 and heads an average of £64,143.

Mr Barton said it is, unfortunately, the case that a much higher proportion of men go into leadership positions than women.

He added: "This is at least partly due to the fact that we still live in a society in which women end up taking career breaks and this can affect progression.

"It is essential that we put an end to this gender gap by offering more opportunities for flexible working so that both women and men are assisted to combine careers with families.”

Department for Education figures show that there were 5,174 teachers in state-funded schools in Worcestershire as of November 2021 – with 1,232 of them men.

This means male teachers make up just 23.8% of the workforce in the area in the 2021-22 academic year.

Across England, just 14% of nursery and primary school teachers, 35% of secondary teachers, and 25% of special school and PRU teachers are men.

Overall, 24.2% of state-funded school teachers are male – the joint-lowest proportion since records began in 2010-11.

The Department for Education said employers are encouraged to publish a plan setting out the clear actions that they will put in place to reduce their gender pay gap.